# CJI: 90% mediation compliance; HC judge defends dual lawyer-arbitrator role 2026-08-08T07:57:20+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Bombay High Court Justice Sharmila Deshmukh said lawyers must see themselves as both advocates and arbitrators, describing arbitration as a parallel justice system. Speaking at a Mumbai Centre for International Arbitration event, she defended practicing lawyers serving as arbitrators, arguing they carry vital insight into how cases hold up in court. Earlier Friday, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant told an international ADR conference that voluntary compliance with mediated settlements can reach 90% because parties help draft their own resolutions. He said mediation asks what parties can live with, not who is right. Delhi High Court Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya said mediation might one day replace arbitration. A panel discussed concerns over part-time arbitrators forming a 'club' without institutional oversight. ## Coverage - barandbench.com - barandbench.com Tags: ADR, arbitration, CJI Surya Kant, justice reform, Maadhyam, mediation Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/people-honour-mediation-deals-more-than-court-orders-cji/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/people-honour-mediation-deals-more-than-court-orders-cji/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.